Joint for tubing



Nov. 18,1947; E.v E. HowE 2,431,120

` JOINT Fon TUBING Original Filed Jap. 6, 1944 Fay] R 7` l0 Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE JOINTFOR TUBING Earl E. Howe, Chicago, lll., assigner, hy meme assignments, to Chicago Forging Aand Manntactnring Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware My invention relates generally to connections for tubing or pipes having thin Walls. One purpose is to provide iluld tight connection for tubing that includes an elastic compressible sealing, cushioning member.

Another purpose is to provide a joint for tubing in which direct metal to metal contacts are avoided.

Another purpose is to provide a joint for tubing which includes improved cushioning means.

Another purpose is to provide a joint for tubing of maximum simplicity. l My invention is particularly applicable toA iluid tight sealing connections for tubes subjected to fluids at high pressure.

'I'he present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 517,169, filed on January 6, 1944, for Joints for tubing.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is,;an axial section through a joint embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail of the pressure element of the joint shown in Figre l:

f Figur" e 3 is an axial section through a variant crm;

Figure 4 is an axial section through another variant form;

Figure 5 is a side elevation ci the spring member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the spring member shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a partial axial section showing another form of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings it will be understood that the joint is i'ormed by a tube l preferably y be made of any suitable elastic, compressible ma terial. I may employ for example rubber or rubber-like materials or synthetics. The member I is preferably preformed to have generally the form .which it takes in the iinal joint. It may, for ex- 4r Claims. 4(Gl. 285-90) 2 V ample, have a generally cylindrical circumferential area l, and generally'conic end suriaccsfi. 'It also has an inner channel l to receive the projection 2. It will beiunderstood. however, that the initial form of the mass may be varied to suit particular needs, and to prevent the necessity oi' any substantial distortion during tightening of the Joint. The outward projection 2 is formed preferably adjacent one end of the tube. It may y be formed by rolling the tube wall outwardly. With reference to the rest oi the joint. I employ a iltting generally indicated as 1 which has a central bore l, a reduced externally screw threaded portion 9 at one end, and an externally screw threaded portion Il, at the opposite end, of substantially greater diameter. The inner bore is enlarged within such screw threaded portion as at Il. The adjacent end of the fitting is Senerally conically tapered as at i2. I3 is any suitable gripping portion which may hexagonally or otherwise be formed.. The interior of the enlarsed bore Il is of suillcient internal diameter to receive the end of the tube I without contacting it, and is of suillcient depth to avoid 'any contact with the end of the tube.

I employ also an outer member or 'nut' 4I shown as terminating inwardly in a surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the joint. The pressure chamber thus formed is somewhat larger than the washer or rubber member 3 and gives space for a suitable loaded spring. In the form of Figures 1 and 2 the spring includes the gether tobuild up pressure, the fingers I8 are eventually flexed into the position in which they are shown in Figure l, and exert a yielding thrust whichforces the conic portion Il against the opposed end of the elastic compressible mass 3. As the pressure is continued and increased by rc- `tation of the member eventually the entire space in the pressure chamber will be illled by the mass I. The. space between the lingers 48 and the conic ring ll is not nlled with material and does not iorm part oi the pressure chamber. It will be noted that in Figure l, I illustrate a ferrule Il in place o! the integral outward tolding of the tube shown at 2 in Figure 3. Either form of projection may be employed.

In the form of Figures 3 and 4, I illustrate a generally conic thrust plate El, which has an outer lip or outer edge 52 and an inner portion 53 lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the joint.

In the form of Figure 7, I illustrate a coll spring" 54, coaxial with the joint, which exerts a pressure against the plate 5l and thus provides a spring loading for the member 3.

In the form of Figure 3, the other parts of the drawing being the same, I employ a coil spring 58, the coil of which surrounds the axis of. the joint.

In the form of Figure 4, I may employ the conic thrust plate 5I but in the place of the springs illustrated in Figures 7 and 3, I employ a corrugated spring washer 60.`

It will be realized that whereas I have shown and described an operative device, still many changes might be made in the size, shape, number, arrangement and disposition of parts without departing materially from the Aspirit of my invention. I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a broad sense as diagrammatic and illustrative, rather than as a limitation to my precise showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I have developed a joint or'connection for tubes and the like which includes the following advantages:

1. An elimination oi any direct contact between the tube and the surrounding fittings.

2. A joint ln which an elastic compressible mass of material may be employed which can advantageously be preformed in such fashion as to require a minimum of distortion.

3. A joint in which an elastic compressible mass is subjected to a loaded spring.

The projection or bead may be shaped in various forms, some being shown herein. Some forms may be made by rolling and others by the use of dies including a central die to prevent inward collapse of the tube. Such die means are shown, for example, in my co-pending application Serial No. 486,463, led May 10, 1943.

Seals or connections made iny accordance with the present disclosure have been employed under pressures up to five thousand pounds or more per square inch, while subjected to intermittent or constant pressure and vibration. They are useful for example in connection with internal combustion engines and high pressure pumps and in the pressure systems of tanks, airplanes and naval vessels. In the forms of Figures 5 and following- I disclose a spring loading feature and illustrate various forms of springloading which may be used in connection with an elastic compressible washer.

I claim:

1. In a high pressure joint, a tube having a circumferential outward projection adjacent an end thereof, a mass of elastic compressible sealing material surrounding said projection and the adjacent parts of the tube, a member to which said tube is connected, said member having a chamber for receiving and surrounding said sealing material, said chamber being formed by a plurality of relatively movable chamber elements, one of said elements having an aperture through which an end of the tube extends, means for moving said chamber elements toward opposite sides of the mass of sealing material thereby to place said mass under pressure, and spring loading means located within the space defined by said chamber elements and adapted, in response to movement of said chamber elements toward closed position, to exert acontrollable spring loading against said mass, said spring loading means including a movable pressure member engaging one end of said mass and a corrugated spring washer interposed between said pressure element and an end of said chamber.

2. In a high pressure joint, a tube having a circumferential outward projection adjacent an end thereof, a mass of elastic compressible seallng material surrounding said projection and the adjacent parts of the tube, a member to which said tube is connected, said member having a chamber for receiving and surrounding said seallng material, said chamber being formed by a plurality of relatively movable chamber elements, one of said elements having an aperture through which an end of the tube extends, means for moving said chamber elements toward opposite sides, of the mass of sealing material thereby to place said mass under pressure, and spring loading means located within the space defined by said chamber element and adapted, in response to movement of said chamber elements toward closed position, to exert a controllable spring loading against said mass, said spring loading means including a movable pressure member engaging one end of said mass and a pressure loading element between said pressure element and an end of said chamber, including a plurality of spring ngers integral with said pressure member.

3. In apressure joint, a tube having a circumferential outward projection adjacent an end thereof, a washer of flexible material surrounding the tube and surrounding said projection, a multi-part chamber element into which said tube penetrates, said washer being located in and surrounded by said chamber element when the joint is completed, said washer constituting the sole connection between the tube and the chamber element, and means for spring loading said washer including a generally conic plate, located Within said chamber element, a spring element located within said chamber element and interposed between a wall of said chamber element and the opposed conic face of said washer, and means for subjecting the washer to pressure, including means for moving one part of said chamber element in relation to another part, and for thereby urging said spring element against `said plate.

4. In a pressure joint, a tube, a washer of ilexible material Asurrounding the tube, a multLpart chamber element into which said tube penetrates, said washer being located in and surrounded by said chamber element when the joint is completed,` said washer constituting the sole connection between the tube and the chamber element, 'and means for spring loading said washer including a generally conic plate,located within said chamber element, a spring element located, within said chamber element and `interposed between a wall of said chamber element andthe opposed conic face of said washer, and means for subjecting the washer to pressure, including means for moving one part of I said chamber element in relation, to another part, and for thereby urging'v said spring element against said plate.

EARL E. HOWE. (References on following page) Number' REFERENCES CITED 2358.408'.

The following referencesV are of record in the 230171317? me of thsxpatent: 5 23121745 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Number 2,344,698 Howe. Mar. 21, 1944 770,564

6 4 lName? Date' McMurray Sept 19, 1944 Miller May 21, 1940 McIntosh Aug. 27, 1940 `FOREIGNV PATENTS Country Date France July 2, 1934 

